High nesting sectional tank



May 28 1957 w. G. woons HIGH NESTING SECTIONAL TANK Filed Dec. 2 1955 '3 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 28, 1957 w. G. wooDs HIGH NESTING sEcTroNAL TANK 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 2, 1955 INVENToR. //wfw 6', aas

, May 28, 1957 w. G. WOODS 2,793,779

HIGH NES-TING SECTIONAL TANK Filed DSC. 2, 1955 3 Sheets- Sheet 3 5y ,a9 1 VENToR. w/Psw 61. Waabs United States Patent O ice HIGH NESTING SECTIONAL TANK Warren G. Woods, Wichita, Kans., assignor to Beech Aircraft Corporation, Wichita, Kans., a corporation of Delaware I Application December 2, 1955, Serial No. 550,564

1o Claims. (ci. zzo- 5) The invention herein disclosed relates to containers in the nature of wing tip auxiliary fuel tanks.

Special objects of the invention are to providecontainers of this type so sectioned that they may be compactly nested for shipment and storage and so constructed that they may be quickly and easily assembled in securely connected, fully sealed, liquid-tight relation.

Further important special objects of the invention are to provide mechanically connecting and sealing means in a form which in the act of engagement will automatically lock and seal parts together and which with internal pressure developed within the tank, will lock and seal all the more securely. l

Other special objects of the invention are tov accomplish the results indicated with a simple, low cost construction, consisting of few parts and made up, so far as possible, of integrally connected elements which may be readily joined, requiring minimum skill and time.

Other desirable objects attained by the invention and the novel features of construction, combination and relation of parts comprising the, invention are set forth and will appear in the course of the following specification.

Drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification illustrate a present commercial embodiment of the invention but structure may be modiiied and changed as regards the immediate illustration, all withinthe tru'eintent and scope of the invention as hereinafter dened and claimed.

Fig. 1 in the drawings isa bottom plan view of awing tank constructed in accordance with and embodying features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing one of the end sections and a portion of the intermediate tanksection with coupling rings, all in separated relation;

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the split intermediate tank section deected in the act of joining the meeting edges and with broken lines indicating how these parts will automatically interlock as the section is sprung back to normal circular shape;

Fig. 5 is ,a broken plan view illustrating the joinder of end and intermediate sections;

Fig. 6 is a cross-section taken through the intermediate tank section as on line 6 6 of Fig. l;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged broken sectional detail of oney of the transverse joints between end and intermediate sec* tions as on line 7-7 of Fig. 6; a

Figs. 8 and 9 are broken sectional detail viewsof parts forming the longitudinal joint and seal, showing them in initial meshing and fully connected condition.V The tank illustrated is shown made up of conically tapered nose and tail, end sections 10 and 11 joined to opposite ends of a substantially cylindrical intermediate section 12.

The conical end sections can be closely packed in telescoped relation.

To enable complete nesting of all parts the intermediate 2,793,779 Patented May 28, 1957 cylindrical section is spilt longitudinally, enabling it and a number of other mid-sections to be closely rolled about a number of nested end sections and thus all to form a compact package containing all parts of one or a number of the tanks.

Details of the longitudinal joint and seal are shown in Figs. 4, 8 and 9 as comprising integrally formed, cornpanion tongue and groove elements 13, 14 along the opposite edges of the section, meeting and mating on a common arc 15 having a center 16 inside the normal cylindrical outline 17 of the skin forming this section.

This, as will be clear from Fig. 4, enables the parts to be joined withanoutwardly rolling action as the skin, after inward deformation, is permitted or caused to be distended to the true cylindrical shape.

In the final interlocked position, Fig. 9, the lip 18 at the terminal edge of the tongue member 13 overlaps a ridge 19 within the groove .member 14 and the terminal lip 20 on the groove member overlies and overlaps the back of the tongue member, thus providing a double lock between the two members.

The tongue forming member 13 is shown as longitudinally grooved along the outsideof the tip portion at 21 to provide clearance for easyengagement of the lip 20, Fig. 8, over the tongue at the beginning of the mating engagement. f

vSealing of the joint is effected by a compressible packing strip 22 located in an undercut groove 23 in the projecting tongle element 13 in opposition to an undercut shoulder 24 in the opposing edge of the groove element 14. The groove member is shownv cut away at-ZS adjoininglthe undercut Seat24 to allow for possible expansion of the packing strip.

The longitudinal packing 22, located as it is in the forwardunderside of the tongue, cornes into engagement with the opposing seat in the companion groove member as the parts are rocked together from the Fig. 8 to the Fig. 9` position, thus to automatically close and seal the joint as the parts reach the fully coupled, inseparable relation.

The transverse joints between the longitudinally spilt mid-section and the circularly complete end sections are shown in Figs. 6 and 7 asmade and sealed by U-shaped clamps 26 engaged overbevel edge rings 27, 28 abutting the extruded skin rings 29, 30 which are welded to the skin at the opposing ends of the intermediate and end sections, these wedge clamps being drawn down over the wedge rings by O-ring packed selfsealing bolts 31 extended inwardly through guide openings 32 in yrings 28 into engagement with iixedly attached nuts 33 at the back of the clamp members and the seal being effected by the packing rings 34, Fig. 7, held by rings 27 over the joints between the opposing edges of the skin rings.

The rings 27 at the end of the split intermediate tank section are notched at 40 to admit end portions of packing 22, thus enabling packing rings 34 to be integrally connected to the ends of the longitudinal packing strip 22, all packing then formed as a single harness with possibility of leaks avoided.

The collapsible intermediate section may be held rigidly in the extended, interlocked, fully circular condition by expansible spreader bulkheads indicated at 35, Fig. 2, connected at the top by a rigid backbone member 36.

Set screws 37may be provided on the inner member of the longitudinal joint for positively locking these members against any inward distortion such as might have a tendency to start the jaws in the direction of uncoupling, that is, toward the full line position shown in Fig. 4.

Both the longitudinal and the transverse joints are strong and secure and one set of joints reinforces the other, the completely circular transverse joints serving as connectors for the ends of the split longitudinal seam joint. The longitudinal joint automatically interlocks and seals in the act of restoring the mid-section to normal circular outline and conversely this joint may be opened by bending the parts at the joint inwardly, out of the circular outline. Internal pressure such as occasioned by the Iload in the tank holds the joined parts extended to the fully interlocked and sealed circular conformation.

The transverse joints are equally strong and secure. The U-shaped lugs operate to hold the end sections positively interlocked to the intermediate section and the externally accessible bolt fastenings enable adjustment to take up any looseness if there be such.

The operations of assembly and disassembly are, simple and quickly performed. In the separated or knockeddown condition the parts are closely nestable, enabling compact packaging for shipment or storage; The parts are few in number and of. simple, low. cost design.v

The loose abutment rings 28 may beforced into the end sections over the skin rings 30 by slightly compressing them to ovular shape and possibly slightly spreading the skin rings, and then turning rings 2S into position in back of the annular shoulders on the skin rings.

Similarly, after solid engagement and connection of the tongue and groove members 13,14, the loose end rings 27 may be forced into position in back of the` skin rings 29 at the ends of the intermediate section, in this operation the notches 40 in these rings registering with andaccepting the end portions of'the longitudinal packing 22. In the nal setup the clamp rings 27, as shown in Fig. 7, will-hold the sealing rings 34r compressibly engaged over the joints at the meeting ends of the skin rings 29 and 30 on the ends of the intermediate and end sections.

To facilitate connection and securement of the parts the nuts 33 are xedly secured to or may be integrally formed with the ring straddling clamps 26 andthe latter are each formed with one leg 41 longer than the other leg 42 so that with insertion of screws 31 these clamps may be held attached at 41 to one ring, that is, in this case the ring 28, with the other ends at 42 open far enough to reach inward over the companion rings 27. Then upon tightening bolts 31 the clamps will'be drawn outwardly into gripping and holding engagement over the bevel rings 27.

This operation of assembly is facilitated by applying surrounding forms over the end sections which will hold the bolts 31 inwardly and the clamps thus open far enough to pass in over the clamp rings 27 as the end sections are assembled to the intermediate section.

The'clamp positioning and securing bolts 31 may be slotted or countersunk for engagement of screw-driver, wrench or other turning tools, and these bolts may be of the self-sealing type equipped with -rings or equivalent at the base of the bolt heads for automatically and securely sealing the same as they are tightened to final position.

To further assure-the U-clamps remaining attached to one section while that section is being joined to the companion section, the loose clamp rings 28 may be made of greater internal extent than the companion clamp rings 27, substantially as shown in Fig. 7. The bolts 31 by extending through guide openings 32 in rings 28, act to position and center these rings, enabling them to assist in properly locating the clamps 26 so that they will be held in the open relation, ready to extend inV over and in back of the companion clamp rings 27.

The tongue and groove jaws forming thev members of the longitudinal joint may be readily registered and aligned by bringing the outer corner edges ofthose members into the opposing abutting relation shown in Figs.` 4 yand 8, whereupon the spring of the then inwardly deformed tank section will automatically roll the jaw membersy outwardly about the line of abutment as a pivotal center, resulting in the completely interlocking tina-l engagement illustrated in Figs. 6 and 9. After the companion jaw elements have thusbeen interlocked, with the section restored to'circular formation, the bulkheads 35 and backbone member 36, may be introduced and fastened as shown in Fig. 2, thus securing the tank section in the circular shape and xing the jaws in the interlocked relation. At such time also, set screws 37, may be applied to or tightened on the inner one of the jaw members to lock these members in the fully engaged relation.

The circular curvature of the interlocking and overlapping portions of the tongue and groove jaw members on arcs drawn with the convex side disposed inwardly of the tank section and the concave sides faced outwardly causes the jaws to automatically close together as the tank section is restored or springs back. to its original cross-sectional shape.

What is claimed is:

l. A high nesting sectional tank comprising a longitudinally split, generally cylindrical intermediate section and substantially conical circularly complete end sections, longitudinally extending l companion interlocking jaws along the meeting edges of the split intermediate section, packing engaged between said jaws and compressible thereby in the closing interlocking engagement of the v jaws` and means `securing said circularly complete end sections to the ends of said split intermediate section, including circular clamp rings in the end portions of the end sections,v companion circular clamp rings in the end portions of the split intermediate section and U-shaped clamps adjustably engaged over said circular clamp rings.

2. A high, nesting sectional tank comprising a longitudinally split, generally cylindrical intermediate section and substantially conical circularly complete end sections, longitudinally extending companion interlocking jaws along the meeting edges of the split intermediate section, packing engaged between said jaws and compressible therebyv in the closing interlocking engagement of the jaws and means securing said circularly complete end sections to the ends ofsaid split intermediate section, including clamp rings in the end portions of the end sections, companion notched clamp rings in the end portions of the split intermediate section and U-shaped clamps adjustably engagedover said circular notched clamp rings, and packing rings engaged by said notched clamp rings, said longitudinal' seam packing extending through the notches in said' clamp rings into conjunction with said packing rings at the endsof'the split tank section.

3. High nesting sectional tank comprising a longitudinally split, normally cylindrical intermediate tank section having companion interlocking jaws along the meeting edges of the section, end sections engageable with the ends of said intermediate section, said end and intermediate sectionsk having internal, annularly shouldered skin rings at the ends of the same for abutting engagement when the end sections are assembled to the intermediate section, loose abutment rings in the end and intermediate sections in back of the annular shoulders of said skin rings, U-shaped clamps engageable over said loose clamp rings for drawing the sections together, said clamps carrying nut elements and externally accessible bolts extended inwardly into engagement with said nut elements for drawing said clamps outwardly to thereby elfect securement of the end sections to said intermediate section.

4. High'nesting sectional tank comprising a longitudinally split, normally cylindrical intermediate tank section having companion interlocking jaws along the meeting edges ofthe section, end sections engageable with the ends of vsaid intermediate section, said end and intermediate sections having internal, annularly shouldered skin rings at the ends ofthe same for abuttingengagement when the end sections are assembled to the intermediate section, loose abutment rings in the end and intermediate sections in back of the annular shoulders of said skin rings, U- shaped clamps engageable over said loose clamp rings for. drawing the sections together, said clamps carrying nut elements and externally accessible bolts extended inwardly into engagement with said nut elements for drawing said clamps outwardly to thereby eiect securement of the end sections to said intermediate section, transverse packing rings compressibly held by the clamp rings at the ends of the intermediate section over the joints between the end and intermediate sections, said rings having notches in line with the longitudinal joint of the intermediate section and a packing `strip Acompressibly held between opposing jaws of the split intermediate section and extending through the notches in said clamp rings to said transverse packing rings.

5. High nesting sectional tank comprising a longitudinally split, normally cylindrical intermediate tank section having companion interlocking jaws along the meeting edges of the section, end sections engageable with the ends of said intermediate section, said end and intermediate sections having internal, annularly shouldered skin rings at the ends of the same for abutting engagement when the end sections are assembled to lthe intermediate section, loose abutment rings in the end and intermediate sections in back of the annular shoulders of said skin rings, U-shaped clamps engageable over said loose clamp rings for drawing the sections together, said clamps carrying nut elements and externally accessible bolts extended inwardly into engagement with said nut elements for drawing said clamps outwardly to thereby effect securement of the end sections to said intermediate sections, said U-shaped clamps being held by said bolts engaged at one end with one clamp ring, with the opposite end open far enough to pass over the companion clamp ring and whereby the clamps of adjoining sections may be held to one section in position to be engaged with the other section.

6. 'Ihe invention according to claim 5, in which the U-shaped clamps are longer at one end than at the other to eiect the attachment to one section while that section is being applied to the companion section.

7. The invention according to claim 5, in which the clamp ring on one section is of greater depth than the clamp ring on the companion section to thereby retain the U-shaped clamps attached to said rst section while the same is being applied to the companion section.

8. The invention according to claim 5, in which one of the companion clamp rings is aligned with the clamp securing bolts `and has openings therethrough for free passage of said bolts to the nut elements on the U-shaped clamps.

9. In a tank of the character set forth, a longitudinally split normally cylindrical tank section having interlocking companion tongue and groove jaw members along the meeting edges of the same, cylindrically curved 0n arcs disposed with the convex side toward the interior of the tank section and the concave side toward the outside of the tank section and said jaw members having opposed corner edges at the outside, abutting when the tank section is deformed inwardly out of circular outline, to thereby register the outwardly concave portions of said tongue and groove members for interlocking engagement as the tank section is distended to restore it to circular outline and circular bulkhead means in the tank section for holding same in the outwardly distended circular outline condition with said jaw members locked in interlocked relation.

10. In a tank of the character set forth, a longitudinally split normally cylindrical tank section having interlocking companion tongue and groove jaw members along the meeting edges of the same, cylindrically curved on arcs disposed with the convex side toward the interior of the tank section and the concave side toward the outside of the tank section and said jaw members having opposed corner edges at the outside, abutting when the tank section is deformed inwardly out of circular outline, to thereby register the outwardly concave portions of said tongue and groove members for interlocking engagement as the tank section is distended to restore it to circular outline and a longitudinally extending sealing strip interposed between said companion jaw members, one of said jaw members having a groove in the edge of the same opposed -to the other jaw member and said sealing strip being partially seated in said groove and said other jaw member having a projecting ridge compressibly engaging v the exposed portion of said sealing strip.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,347,309 Zoldok Apr. 25, 1944 2,414,366 Elze et al. Jan. 14, 1947 2,471,296 Allen et al. May 24, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 251,314 Switzerland July 16, 1948 

